Paterson man involved in $1.2 million Covid-related unemployment scheme pleads guilty
By Jonathan Greene
Published: November 17, 2021
A city man has pleaded guilty for his role in a $1.2 million scheme to fraudulently secure Covid-19-related unemployment assistance.
Omar Thompson, 39, of Paterson, pleaded guilty on Friday to wire fraud conspiracy before a federal judge in Massachusetts.
Thompson and his co-conspirator submitted more than 100 fraudulent pandemic unemployment assistance claims to the Department of Unemployment Assistance in Massachusetts that resulted in more than $1.2 million in payments.
Authorities said half of the claims were made on behalf of people residing outside of Massachusetts. Thompson recruited people from other states to apply for pandemic unemployment assistance in Massachusetts. He submitted claims on their behalf and received kickback payments in return.
Thompson could face 20 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 22, 2022.